You & I

1. Warm Welcomes & Cold Stares

Plaid knee-length skirts and white blouses may seem fancy and unique to the everyday teenager, but to Natalie, it was classic Reed-household attire. She looked in the mirror and studied her outfit. Today was her first day of college and she had to look her absolute best.

"Natalie? Are you ready?" her mother called from downstairs.

"Yes," she replied, slipping her black loafers over her knee-high socks. Slinging her purse over her shoulder and taking one last glance in the mirror, she thought to herself, you are going to have a good time. You will make friends and get good marks Your parents will be proud and you will love life at college.

Skipping down the stairs, she ran her hand through her dull blonde hair, and met her mother who was standing by the front door. Her mother's pale hair was pulled back into a tight braided bun, and her makeup was spick-and-span; her everyday work apparel. "Natalie, we are going to be late," her mother scolded as they made their way out the front door.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I just wanted to look good." As they both hopped in her mother's silver Lexus, Natalie stared at her reflection in the rearview mirror of the car.

"You look fine, dear," her mother said with a straight face. Elizabeth Reed was a strict woman who stuck to the bible's rules and trained her daughter to be prepared for a good life. She didn't often laugh and she didn't allow Natalie to buy her own clothing or talk to boys she hadn't yet met, as that would be highly inappropriate and juvenile of a mother. But despite her stern parenting, Natalie loved her mother and was thankful for everything she gave to her.

“Thank you.”

The rest of the ride was spent silently, other than her mother’s Mozart CD quietly playing in the background. As they finally pulled into the Ravenswood University campus, Natalie gasped. It was much bigger than the pictures she had viewed of it online. Vast brick buildings lined the property and students were littered all around. Not the kind of students Natalie had hoped for. She frowned.

“These kids are foolish. Where did their mothers go wrong?” her mother said, appalled. Almost every kid on the campus was dressed differently, but each in their own way. It was obvious to Natalie that none of her schoolmates’ mothers had dressed them that morning. She shook her head.

Then, her eyes landed on a wooden bench on a grassy area in front of the school. Seated on it were a handful of college students, boys and girls. The boys wore similar clothing such as graphic t-shirts, jeans, and snapback hats. The girls were also dressed alike, all in mini skirts or shorts and tight tops. The group together made Natalie gag.

Abruptly, one boy with brown curls turned his head and made direct eye contact with Natalie. His glare was intimidating, causing her to look away immediately. She hadn’t noticed her heart pumping, or how alarmed she appeared, until her mother spoke. “Natalie, we are here. I know you are nervous but you better get going,” she reprimanded, making hand motions indicating that she needed to exit the vehicle.

“Okay. Thank you for driving me,” Natalie said, stepping out of the car and gathering her belongings in her arms.

“You are welcome. Have a good day. I will drop the rest of your luggage off within the next day or so and say a proper goodbye,” her mother stated. She then waved goodbye as Natalie shut the car door after trudging her toiletry bag over her forearm.

She stood on the sidewalk for five whole minutes after her mother had driven away, solely because she didn’t know what to do. After gathering herself and her items, she turned and walked up the long staircase, and through the door of the main building. She looked around, then made her way to the front desk.